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Hugh E. 'Ed' Empey Marysville, WA QCWA # 32799 |
Hugh Edward Empey
But don't call him Hugh.
Ed was born December 14, 1946 in Aberdeen, Washington to James and Nellie Empey. A depression era family of six, life's staples sometimes depended on harvesting local seafood or relying on donations from the local sport fishing industry.
Their home had no indoor plumbing, and one of Ed's chores was fetching bucket water from an outside pump. Milk was rationed for oatmeal and not for drinking.After high school, Ed enlisted in the Navy and saw much of the world. He served during the Vietnam War doing specialized communications work on the aircraft carrier Ticonderoga and the USS Magoffin APA-199, and was finally drinking milk on a daily basis. In his downtime he watched the flight deck operations, beginning a lifetime love for all things aviation.While in the Navy, Ed was transferred to the Arlington area Jim Creek Naval Communication site.
Ed and his beloved wife Cindy settled in Marysville in 1976, where they negotiated the purchase of their current home from a local builder. His work life spanned the early NW technology scene, a career with Boeing, personal entrepreneurship, and teaching. A man for all seasons, he reveled at being his own boss owning a Lake Stevens video rental store with Cindy; loved his team lead position at Boeing, supporting production demands; and was quietly proud and humbled to teach Project Management at City University and Seattle University. Ed's view of personal success was in watching his students succeed and continuing to support them through life long after graduation.His interests were varied. In addition to teaching and his ongoing education (the man had two advanced degrees), he vested time mentoring younger employees at work; spent time coaching students in his off hours; was an avid home flight simulator; was engrossed in photography; and actively volunteered for area groups such as the hospitals, 911 services, and the Marysville Volunteer Patrol. He followed the Mariners for decades, and with Cindy he was an avid hockey fan (go, Kraken!)
He sustained a 50-year love of CB/ham radio, belonging to the Snohomish County Ham Club and teaching many the values of Amateur Radio for fun and disaster preparedness in the community.His callsign is WA7ETH and he was an Extra Class operator.Ed passed away in Everett from Covid-19 on February 20, 2022.He was preceded in death by his wife Cynthia Empey, his mother Nellie Empey, father James Empey, and brothers James Empey, Norm Empey, Ralph Empey and sister Patricia Morisch.
He is survived by his brother David Empey, an extended local and international family, and myriads of friends who grew under the halo of love he and Cindy shared with so many, for so long. And, Maggie the Cat. Maggie dictated most of this, and Ed would want her credited.Memorial services will be held on Saturday, May 7 at 1 pm, at Marysville United Methodist Church, at 5600 64th Street Northeast, Marysville, WA 98270.
In lieu of flowers or gifts, contributions are strongly encouraged to one or all of the following:Northwest Organization for Animal Help (The NOAH Center) of Stanwood, WA, tax ID #91-1362069; Progressive Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) of WA, tax ID #91-6073154;and Pasado's Safe Haven of WA, tax ID #91-1843707.
December 14, 1946 - February 20, 2022
Published by The Herald (Everett) from May 3 to May 4, 2022.